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Except for the occasional ?the? pronounced ?da,? few could detect the accent, said his wife, Jenna Vandermey.

He graduated from Cole High School in 1967. At first unsuccessful in college, he enlisted in the Navy in 1969, serving as a submariner and electronics technician. He was in the Navy for nine years and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1979. During that time, he also was married and divorced.

Together with his service in the Air Force Reserve, he served in the military almost 22 years.

Back in San Antonio, Vandermey began working at Lackland AFB, taking classes at its online Park University, earning a bachelor's degree in computer science. He was a federal contractor, then a federal employee at Lackland's Security Hill.

He was a software engineer at Cryptologic Systems Group, retiring in 2009. His wife noted, however, that ?I never really, really knew what he did.?

They met in 2000, sharing an interest in running.

?Pete was one of the fast guys. It was a natural talent,? she said.

He started running in his 30s but found out quickly he was good at it. He often placed nationally in his age group.

?He would ring out every ounce of strength and endurance and do his very best. If anyone beat him, it was fair and square,? she said. ?He was a very, very good sport.?

On regular Thursday afternoons, after a run, he could be found at Soler's Tri Sports in Helotes (with other members of the Sensitive Men's Club), where today's celebration of his life will take place.

His family obit noted he crossed the finish line of the most important event of his life in peace, which is how his wife described their relationship.